We live in an angry world, ruled by conflict. Whether in our families, our polarised politics or online trolling and verbal abuse, it's easy to find those who've been riled up into a state of rage. Sometimes, anger can come from a good place – a frustration at the world's evil and injustice.
The Bible says a lot about anger: God is angered by sin, yet he is also described as 'slow to anger'. There is an implied sense that anger can be righteous, but Scripture also makes frequent calls to refrain from anger and conflict, and to make peace with our violent quarrels. Here are 11 Bible verses about anger.
1. I feared the anger and wrath of the Lord, for he was angry enough with you to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me (Deuteronomy 9:19).
2. The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation (Numbers 14:18).
3. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools (Ecclesiastes 7:9).
4. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).
5. Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice (Psalm 7:6).
6. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).
7. For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife (Proverbs 30:33)
8. Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs (Proverbs 10:12).
9. Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds (Habakkuk 1:3).
10. 'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26).
11. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips (Colossians 3:8).
